The Synthesizer

Analogue - Digital

First, here are a few basics. A sound is the result of changes in air pressure as
energy travels from a sound's source to our ears. The human ear can process
sounds in a frequency range from 20 to 20,000 hertz, and we perceive every
sound to have a different pitch, timbre (or tonal quality) and loudness. Even if
two instruments play the same musical note, the measurable characteristics of
each sound -- like frequency (number of repetitions of the wave in one second),
amplitude (volume, or the change in air pressure), wavelength (the distance
between cycles of a waveform) and period (the time it takes for a waveform to
repeat a full cycle) -- can vary dramatically. Sounds also contain harmonics, or
layers of frequencies that combine to make a full, complex voice. Finally, there
are the changes in volume that take place over the lifespan of a sound. This
process, which encompasses the peak volume once the note is struck all the way
through its inevitable dissolution, is described as attack, decay, sustain and
release (ADSR).

How A Synthesizer Works

 additive synthesis - combining tones, typically harmonics

of varying amplitudes
subtractive synthesis - filtering of complex sounds to shape
harmonic spectrum, typically starting with geometric waves.
sampling - using recorded sounds as sound sources subject
to modification
granular synthesis - combining of several small sound
segments into a new sound
physical modeling - mathematical equations of acoustic
characteristics of sound

Analogue Synthesis
Methods

The four important methods used in digital sound synthesis are as follows:
Loose Modelling
Loose modelling consists of little or no real attempt to model sound. It is used to
perform AM, FM, Walsh, and Wavetable synthesis.
Time-Based Modelling
Time-based modelling models sound in the time domain. It is used is
granular
synthesis, wave set distortion, and waveform composition.
Spectral modelling
Spectral modelling models sound in the frequency domain. It is used in additive
synthesis, and re-synthesis (such as the Hartmann Neuron synthesizer).
Physical modelling
Physical modelling uses mathematical models of acoustical properties of
instruments/components. It is used to create extremely accurate
reproductions of physical
sounds, such as mass & spring simulations, and
Karplus Strong synthesis to create
accurate sounding plucked sounds.

Digital Synthesis
Methods

 Monophonic: These things have been around since the beginnings of

synthesis technology after all, they are the simplest to create bearing in
mind that they need only to have the facilities to produce 1 voice, and
that they use less complex (but many would argue better sounding)
analogue components. Examples: MiniMoog and ARP Odyssey.
Polyphonic: A polyphonic version of the above, meaning that they are
able to play more than one note without compromising the other voices.
In the early days these were gargantuan beasts with a sound to match,
but the Prophet 5 revolutionised analogue polyphonic synthesizers due to
its use of a computer microprocessor, giving it the ability to digitally
store patches. Examples: Prophet 5 and Oberheim OB-8.

Analogue

 A relatively short-lived group of synthesizers, mostly from

around the 1980s featuring alternatives to subtractive
synthesis. Yamaha pioneered this idea with their DX range of
FM-based synthesizers, as well as contributions from Casio
with their phase distortion technique, and Roland with their
still very popular D-50 synth, which used a new type of
synthesis called Linear Algorithmic. These synths, although
responsible for the downfall of analogue machines, helped
give musicians the ability to create completely new and unique
sounds never heard before. Examples: Yamaha DX-7 and Korg
M1.

Digital

 Unique machines with special characteristics, so its hard

to describe them all together. However, they are usually
defined by combining analogue and digital technology
together, or for introducing a new method of synthesis or
major feature. Examples: PPG Wave and Ensoniq ESQ-1.

Hybrid

 Analogue synthesizers which feature each of their individual components

in separate units. These units (or modules) are connected by cables
using the CV/gate trigger interface, and have the advantage that they are
extremely flexible in terms of programming ability, and allow the user to
add or remove modules as much as they want. Unfortunately, this also
makes them difficult to program and high addictive (and therefore large
and expensive). Examples: Moog Modular and EMU Poly-fusion.
These are a long outdated combination of analogue monophonics with the
patch points of a modular synth. This has the advantage of a fairly small
synthesizer but which can be programmed with great complexity.
Software technology makes this sort of synth architecture no longer
necessary. Examples: ARP 2600 and Korg MS-10.

Modular

 Theremin is an instrument
invented by Leo Theremin
and is played by moving
your hands near to the two
aerials, this manipulate the
pitch and volume. The
beach boys used a similar
instrument on the song
Good vibrations (called a
Tannerin).

How to Play The Theremin

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9STWwl6v
ivA
Good Vibrations Beach Boys
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CelV7Ebu
V-A

1920 The Theremin

 Ondes Martenot is a
keyboard instrument
that produces theremin
tones by manipulating
a ribbon underneath the
keyboard. This
instrument can be heard
on radioheads How to
Disappear Completely

How to play the Ondes Martenot

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yy
9UBjrUjwo
How To Disappear Radiohead
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YU
nkyXno_nw

1928 - Ondes Martenot

 Hammond B-3 organ is

a tone wheel drawbar
organ that is played
through a rotating Leslie
speaker which was used
extensively during the
1960s and onwards.
Most popularly used by
Deep Purple

1954 - Hammond
B-3 Organ

Hammond B-3 Organ with Jon

Lord
http://www.youtube.com/wa
tch?v=4mW9b_KRedQ
http://www.youtube.com/watc
h?v=jv7IzJ35RZA

 Rhodes piano is a classic

electric piano that sounds
like a bell crossed with a
vibraphone and is very
similar to the Wurlitzer
electric piano. The Rhode
was used by Herbie
Handcock on the song
Bitch Brew

1965 Rhodes
Piano

The Rhodes Piano

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u
89mYyDhumY
Herbie Handcock Watermelon Man
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a
LcQBAwxQTg

 Hohner clavinet is a
classic funk sounding
piano commonly used
by Stevie Wonder
most famously on the
song Superstition
Hohner Clavinet
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=
L6qJteOpbcI
Stevie Wonder Superstition
http://
www.youtube.com/watch?v=kTp
t49GAIWM

1968 - Hohner Clavinet

 Minimoog is considered
the first synth for
musicians, a potable
version of the moog
modular synth that is
synonymous with its
monophonic recognisable
lead synth sound. Wendy
Carlos used this on the
album Switched-on Bach

The Minimoog with Dr. Bob Moog

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0z0cb
MkOvY0
Wendy Carlos Switched on Bach
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xoV0a
OPt1TU

1969 - Minimoog

 Sequential Circuits
prophet-5 is a
polyphonic analogue
synth that can play 5
notes simultaneously.
The Prophet-5 was used
by Paul McCartney on
the song Wonderful
Christmas Time.

1977 - Sequential
Circuits prophet-5

Sequential Circuits prophet-5

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z4CG
s7lXIiU
Paul McCartney Wonderful
Christmas Time
http://
www.youtube.com/watch?v=MgOUEXl
HD84

 Roland Jupiter-8 (JP-8)

A polyphonic synth
capable of playing 8
notes simultaneously
one of its main features
includes a built in
arpeggiator. Queen
used the Jupiter on the
song Radio Ga Ga

Roland Jupiter 8
http://
www.youtube.com/watch?v=CVMDIsxxE5Q
Radio Ga Ga Queen
http://
www.youtube.com/watch?v=lg9DxY_byvQ

1981 - Roland
Jupiter-8 (JP-8)

 Roland TB-303
commonly used in dance
music during to 1980s
Acid house. Used for
creating bass lines and
has a distinctive squelchy
sound. The TB-303 was
used on the song Acid
Trax by Phuture

Roland TB-303
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SAl_TqTziE
Acid Trax Phuture
http://
www.youtube.com/watch?v=JCUPc9zVfy
o

1982 - Roland TB-303

 Yamaha DX-7 was the first

commercially successful
digital synth which used FM
(frequency modulation). The
DX-7 is capable of creating a
wide range of timbres and its
real potential comes when reproducing real sounds. Brian
Eno used this instrument to
create unique and interesting Yamaha DX-7
timbres
http://
www.youtube.com/watch?v=F3rrjQtQe5A

1983 - Yamaha DX-7

 Korg M1 is a sampling
synth and was used
extensively in pop music
during the 1980s and 90s
this was because of the
high accuracy at creating
realistic sounding
instruments as well as the
more unusual sounding
timbres.

Korg M1
http://
www.youtube.com/watch?v=oRfyIAedCsg

1988 - Korg M1

 BBC Synth Britainia

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=69Wjc6QYuKI